Market over-crowding causes Merck to discontinue two hepatitis C progams

2 October 2017

US pharma giant Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) saw its shares dip in early trading on Friday after it said it has decided to discontinue the development of the investigational combination regimens MK-3682B (grazoprevir/ruzasvir/uprifosbuvir) and MK-3682C (ruzasvir/uprifosbuvir) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, an ever more crowded therapeutic space.

This decision was made based on a review of available Phase II efficacy data and in consideration of the evolving marketplace and the growing number of treatment options available for patients with chronic HCV infection, including its recently approved Zepatier (elbasvir and grazoprevir).

Gilead Sciences (Nasdaq: GILD), the sector leader, has already seen its hepatitis C portfolio sales decline significantly, given that the latest treatments seem to be actually curing the disease, and just earlier this month, Johnson & Johnson’s (NYSE: JNJ) Janssen unit also said it would discontinue further development of its hepatitis C research.

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